8 Practical Ways to Help a Loved One Who's Grieving

You can find a great deal of advice on what to say and do when someone loses a loved one, so this article may not offer anything new. As someone for whom grieving is still somewhat fresh and ongoing, however, perhaps I can impart a bit of first-hand knowledge about what does (and doesn’t) help me.

Here are my eight suggestions about what to do and say (as well as what not to) to help your grieving loved ones:

1. Offer Condolences, Not Advice: That’s it.A simple “I’m sorry for your loss” and/or “I’ll pray for you” might be all we need to hear. As well-meaning as it is, having someone say your loved one is “in a better place” or that they “aren’t suffering anymore” can be hurtful, especially in the beginning. All we know in that moment is that we want our loved one back. Sticking with an honest “I’m sorry” is a safer, gentler way to go. We might not want to hear about your great aunt who lost her husband and how it took her 18 years before she got over it. And as much as a pet can be a member of the family, we also might not want to hear a comparison of your pet’s passing to that of our loved one. We might not want advice on the best way to grieve or insight on how long it should take. We just want to know someone is thinking of us.

2. Withhold Judgment: Understand that grief is a personal, individual thing. Some people put it all out there and tell everyone they come into contact with about their loss. Some people need people to understand why they’re walking around like a zombie. Others choose to keep things more private and hold back from public displays of grief. There is no “right way” to mourn. Allow each person the space they need to grieve, but be there to support them in whatever way they need without judgment. This is their grief, not yours.

3. Offer Specific, Concrete Help: It can be difficult for someone who is grieving to hear “let me know if you need something” for several reasons. First of all, in that moment, sometimes we just don’t know we even need something. In the early days and weeks, there is a period of absolute numbness and shock and we often don’t know exactly what our needs are. Rather, ask specific questions, ones that can’t really be answered with a “no” — “Can I take your kids out for dinner on Thursday or Friday?” “I’m going to the grocery store. Would you like to come with me, or should I just pick up some food for you?” “When would you like me to feed your pets?” “Would it help if I arranged for someone to clean your house?” Secondly, in some ways, our brains are not functioning as they usually are, and direct, pointed questions help us not to have to think so hard. Finally, we may not be comfortable accepting help, especially if we have been fairly independent for a long time.

4. Simply Help Without Asking: Some people have difficulty asking for (or accepting) help. If you see that the yard needs to be mowed, or the driveway shoveled, or the mail just keeps piling up, I suggest taking the initiative. Mow it, shovel it or bring it inside. If you ask “may I,” you might get a negative response. So one option is to do those small, impersonal tasks you know need to be done without asking. Even if we don’t seem appreciative, we are.

5. Take Our Cues: Much as you deal with animals and small children, you often have to take cuesfrom a grieving person. There are good days, bad days and everything in between. Sometimes our ability to interact with people changes from moment to moment. If we seem to be uncomfortable discussing the one we’ve lost at a particular moment, it’s OK to say, “Let’s talk about something else.” There have been moments where I’ve been barely holding it together and when someone shows a moment of kindness, I break down. That may be OK in our home or someone else’s, but some of us don’t want to have a crying jag in the frozen food aisle at the grocery store.

6. Don’t Take Offense: Understand that our emotional distance isn’t personal. One thing I’ve found is that sometimes I’m rude without meaning to be. It may not occur to me at that moment, but later on when I’m replaying a conversation or an exchange in my head, I become upset with myself because I may have come across as disrespectful. I have occasionally walked away mid-conversation without saying a word and not realized it until later. Honestly, we may be just so deep in our own grief that even common courtesies are a struggle. Know this and understand it isn’t personal.

7. Listen: Some of the most helpful people have been those who simply asked an open-ended question and then just sat back and listened. Sometimes we may talk about something specific we miss about our loved one, sometimes we want to cry about the unfairness of it all, and sometimes we want to discuss something trivial. If we’re talking about something inconsequential, it may be because we just need to take a mental break. By discussing some trivial matters, we are giving our grief a temporary respite. (Note that if you believe someone may be ignoring their grief completely, that could be something entirely different and may require professional help.)

8. Just Be: Sometimes we just want you to sit with us and not say a word. A hug, a hand to hold, a shoulder to lean on — each of these can be healing in its own way. It is helpful to know we have a strong support system, even if they can only be a safety net rather than a safety harness. Just knowing someone is there to catch us if we fall is sometimes all we really need.

Thank you to my support system, those of you who have done without asking, who continue to stand by me, who have listened to me complain and whine and cry, those who check in with me every day or nearly every day just to see how I’m doing, and those who have provided hugs, rubbed my back, or offered to hold me and rock me all night. You are appreciated and loved.

After the sudden death of her 50 y.o. high-school sweetheart husband from undiagnosed heart disease, Cheryl became an unwanted advocate for grief and the journey of its victims. Although she writes from the perspective of a widow, her honest, heart wrenching and often humorous articles speak to anyone who is grieving a loss.
You can follow her blog at www.ManyFacesofCheriG.com and find her on Facebook at Facebook.com/manyfacesofcherig